Hammered Dulcimer & Banjo
Sunday
1:00PM-2:00PM
Betty & Tom Mattingly
Historic Ticket Office
Mother & Son ensemble, Betty & Tom Mattingly will perform hammered dulcimer and banjo for the Victorian Chautauqua.
The duo are welcomed guests at the Mary Browning Senior Center in Oakland where they perform regularly. They are often joined by some of their friends on other string instruments with impromptu selections for their audiences. With two hours of music planned for the Victorian Chautauqua, guests can enjoy the soothing melodies outside the Historic Ticket Office and Mountain Lake Park Historical Association Museum.
Seasoned Musician
Betty Mattingly is a self-taught musician who plays multiple instruments and developed a love of music at an early age. When asked by her church to play the organ each Sunday, she eagerly took home the music and just “figured it out” as she puts it.
Betty has recorded several albums with the ensemble Hammers & Strings which has since disbanded. Their repertoire included a variety of Appalachian, Gallic, and spiritual classics. The recordings feature her playing the hammered dulcimer, autoharp, as well as joining in on vocals. Although she’s experienced in a studio setting, she particularly enjoys performing for a live audience and especially with her son Tom. The unspoken chemistry is evident as they seamlessly glide from one song to the next.
Instruments Abound
Betty’s home is an homage to a life filled with music. Her walls are lined with a large collection of pianos and string instruments she has collected over the years.
Mountain Lake Park was a bit of a jaunt for Betty’s family when she was a young farm girl from Swanton, MD. She recalls a time when her family went to a revival at the 5,000-seat Bashford Amphitheater. Her spunky appearance with fiery-red pigtails caught the eye of one of the program coordinators who was scouting for children for an upcoming production. When young Betty was approached, she was so impressed with how fancy the woman was. She was certainly from the city with her stylish dress and flowered, floppy hat. Although a bit star-struck, Betty knew she could not make rehearsals since she had no transportation to make the 10-mile trip from the farm to the Amphitheater. Her missed opportunity is as fond a memory as if she had actually participated. No doubt her talents would have been a valued addition to the program.
In the documentary series Mountain Chautauqua Stories, Betty recalls her life during the camp meeting years in Mountain Lake Park. Her charming portrayal can be found in The Faithful episode.
